Design and implementation of water harvesting 3Rs practices and policy dialogue in Jordan.

3Rs: Retention, Recharge and Reuse

 

As the second most water-stressed country in the world, Jordan relies on groundwater for its primary source of water supply, making aquifer management a matter of national security and concern. Overexploitation of natural resources across the country has led to severe ecosystem degradation. Urbanization and population growth, particularly through hosting an estimated 700,000 Syrian refugees in the last decade, have placed additional strain on dwindling natural resources. Exacerbating these prevailing management challenges is the impact of climate change.

 

The main project objective is to enhance the importance of water harvesting, through demand-driven policy support complemented by capacity building actions, as a sustainable approach to enhancing the resilience of communities and ground water ecosystems most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change and population growth in Jordan.

A Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment (CCVA) approach was used to identify high-value locations for enhanced water management and climate adaptation action in the country. Three regions in Azraq, Mafraq and North Jordan Valley have been targeted for their heightened vulnerability to current and future climate impacts, including human security risk.

The project is composed of 4 implementation levels:

1. Initiation of a national water harvesting (3Rs) evidence-based policy dialogue with the aim of supporting relevant legislation and regulation.
2. Implementation of water harvesting sites, smart farms, and monitoring practices.
3. Capacity building of MWI staff, local communities, and other key local stakeholders in the knowledge and skills around water harvesting practices.
4. Promotion of the key learnings and success stories gained from water harvesting interventions, using tools such as a Media Lab.

The designated interventions will vary to demonstrate series of nature-based solutions NBS, Managed Aquifer Recharge MAR, and upstream / catchment management to maximize the benefit of rainfall.

In addition, home-based businesses HBBs models, in the form of small and medium smart agricultural projects will benefit from the harvested rain water and operated via solar energy, giving a prime holistic example of the Water-Energy-Food-Ecosystem (WEFE) Nexus.